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EVF41163

Six-Ear Hook Lock Tray with Hinged Lid

Available in a wide range of custom configurations & material selection.
Order 1 sample. Or order 100K+ units. Or anything in between.
Affordable delivery across North America.
Design support, warehousing, testing, assembly available.
Widest machinery capability in America via 30+ specialist partner plants.

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Product details

Top highlights

One-piece unglued construction with a hinged, telescoping lid
Stores completely flat to maximize warehouse space
Relies on manual assembly to engage all six hook locks

About this product

The EVF41163 is a one-piece, unglued folding carton that forms a rigid base and a telescoping hinged lid using mechanical hook-and-slit locks. Because it uses no gluing during manufacturing, it ships and stores completely flat, making it a practical choice for retail, apparel, and bakery environments where storage space is tight.

The tradeoff for this flat-packing efficiency is assembly time. Erecting the tray relies on manually folding and seating six separate hook tabs, making it better suited for point-of-sale packing or promotional kitting rather than high-speed fulfillment lines.

Common uses

Retail apparel and accessories
Bakery and confectionery
Promotional kitting

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Retail, Bakery, and Presentation Packing

Retail Apparel and Accessories

Clean lines and a hinged lid provide a premium unboxing experience for shirts, scarves, and accessories without the need for glued seams.

Bakery and Confectionery

The unglued mechanical locks keep the tray free of adhesives, while the telescoping lid protects delicate goods during local transport.

Promotional Kitting

For seasonal assortments or influencer kits, the flat delivery reduces inbound freight space, balancing out the manual assembly time.

Point-of-Sale Gift Packaging

The unglued design allows retail staff to keep blanks flat under the counter, erecting them only when a customer requests a gift box.

Boutique, Bakery, and Kitting Environments

Point-of-Sale Packing

Store staff can keep a stack of flat blanks under the counter and erect them on demand, saving valuable retail floor space.

Seasonal and Promotional Kitting

For promotional kits or seasonal assortments, the flat delivery reduces inbound freight space, balancing out the manual assembly time.

Limited Storage Environments

Operations that lack the warehouse space for pre-glued, nested trays often rely on flat-packed hook-lock designs to maximize storage density.

When to Consider Glued or Tuck-Top Alternatives

High-Speed Fulfillment

If packing speed is the primary bottleneck, compare this to a four-corner glued tray, which erects quickly and eliminates the need to manually seat hook tabs.

Parcel Shipping

Mechanical hook locks can disengage under rough courier handling. If shipping directly to consumers without an outer box, a roll-end tuck-top mailer offers a more secure closure.

Board Thickness, Fit, and Assembly Labor

Board Caliper and Lock Fit

The hook tabs and receiving slits are highly sensitive to material thickness. If you plan to use a thicker board or micro-flute, the lock parameters should be widened to prevent tearing or binding.

Assembly Labor Capacity

Erecting this tray involves folding and locking six separate tabs. Buyers should verify they have the manual labor capacity to support this before committing to an order.

Outer Shipping Needs

Because the lid does not mechanically lock into the base, this tray often needs an outer shipper or secure taping if it will enter a mixed-carrier transit network.

Print and Finish Surfaces

The unglued flat blank allows for straightforward printing on both the inside and outside, but the large footprint of the sprawling flaps should be considered when planning premium finishes.

Lock Tolerances and Lid Clearances

Locking Tab Width and Offset

The necks of the hook tabs can be adjusted to accommodate different board grades or to change how tightly the locks engage.

Lid Clearance

The depth and width of the lid are calculated to telescope smoothly over the base. This clearance can be fine-tuned based on the exact board thickness to prevent a lid that is too tight or too loose.

Female Slit Adjustments

The diagonal receiving slits on the side walls can be lengthened or widened to ensure the hook tabs seat fully without tearing the surrounding board.

Packing details

Flatbed Die-Cutting Efficiency

Because the attached lid and locking flaps sprawl outward, the flat blank has a large footprint. This can reduce the number of cartons that fit on a single sheet, which should be factored into material yield planning.

Grain Direction

To prevent the main lid hinge from cracking during repeated opening, the board's grain direction should run parallel to the back wall.

Additional notes

Board thickness and lock tearing

The most common failure point for hook-lock designs is using a board that is too thick for the cut slits. Always validate the lock fit with a physical prototype when changing materials.

FAQs

Can this tray be erected on automated packaging lines?

The six-ear hook lock design relies on manual dexterity to fold the tabs and seat them into the diagonal slits. It is intended for manual assembly rather than automated erecting equipment.

Is this tray secure enough for courier or parcel shipping?

On its own, the mechanical locks and hinged lid can disengage during rough transit. For parcel shipping, it should be placed inside a corrugated outer shipper or secured with heavy-duty tape or banding.

Can I use a thicker corrugated board instead of standard folding carton?

Switching to a thicker board or micro-flute is possible, but the template's lock dimensions should be recalculated. If the slits are not widened to match the new caliper, the hook tabs may tear or fail to seat properly.

Does the lid lock securely into the base?

The lid forms its own rigid shape using two hook locks, and it telescopes over the base tray. It does not mechanically lock into the base, meaning it can be opened freely unless sealed with a label or tape.

Does this package require gluing?

No. The entire structure is held together by mechanical hook-and-slit locks, bypassing the folder-gluer entirely and shipping completely flat.

Why is a physical sample important for this design?

A CAD sample verifies that the hook tabs fit perfectly into the slits for your specific board choice. It also allows your team to test the manual assembly time before ordering.

How is this tray delivered?

Because it uses no glue, the tray is delivered completely flat. This maximizes pallet density and reduces the warehouse space needed to store the packaging before use.

Can the inside of the lid be printed?

Yes. Since the package is cut from a single flat sheet, both the inside and outside surfaces can be printed, allowing for branding or instructions on the interior lid panel.